Gabriel Gonzalez

Student Life Editor

The networking mixer called “Catalyst” was a great start for many of East Stroudsburg’s future professionals. A meeting place for the young and ambitious, the event was supported by the Entrepreneurial Club and had every table packed. Participants enjoyed the nightlife last Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. And those who didn’t want it to end, attended the 21-plus afterparty just around the corner.

The mixer was held at the Renegade Winery at 600 Main St. in Stroudsburg. Some event-goers enjoyed a glass of wine as the hosts began to set up. While many attendees were students of ESU, others were aspiring entrepreneurs. In the end, the large crowd was very diverse in age range and education.

Everyone was dressed to impress, many leaning towards the casual side of business casual. And luckily for them, on-site headshots were just a request away by Mckinney Media.

Alexa-Nicholle Villafana, founder and creative director of Network Exchange Magazine, of Bronx, NY, was the main event organizer.

“When you are given a message, it’s a sin to ignore it,” she told the Stroud Courier when asked about her inspiration. “When you get that message, you have to do something.”

And that message was an uplifting one for those around her. Villafana wanted more out of East Stroudsburg, PA, and she knew that there were others like her. All they needed was to get together.

“I meant to facilitate that,” she told the Stroud Courier. “I wanted them to have that space.”

Instead of kicking it off immediately at 5 p.m., Villafana allowed for an hour of mingling. The more outgoing attendees rotated around the room shaking hands and handing out their cards. When an hour passed, Villafana kicked it up a notch by forming random groups, leaving no one out.

Before the wallflowers could wilt, Villafana had three note cards ready on each table to start the three-question game. After this, things got a lot livelier. The Renegade Winery was filled with excited chatter and laughter as strangers mixed. And just when each table ran out of things to say, another round began and the groups shifted again.

After getting to know each other’s professional aspirations, Villafana gathered everyone’s attention for a panel discussion. The panel of five included Villafana and four other notable figures. Of special note were Michael Morano, Mayor of Stroudsburg, and Stephanie De Pena of Manhatten, NY, content creator.

They spoke about dealing with haters, success through failure, personal branding and self-actualization. After each panelist discussed themselves and gave their advice, they took questions from the crowd.

“No matter where you are, you can do something about it,” said De Pena.

“Jump and the net will appear,” said Villafana.

After that the event came to an end, but it didn’t mean the night was over. All eventgoers were invited to the 21-plus afterparty just around the corner.

There, the Stroud Courier asked some of the students what they thought before and after attending.

Juliann Ziegenfus, digital media and technology major, junior, of East Stroudsburg, PA, gave her response:

“I was a lot more intimidated than I thought I would be.” But after giving the “Catalyst” a chance, her feelings changed. “I love the way she had it organized. It was really nice that she wants to invest in this town.”

And Clara Wenk, public relations major with a minor in digital media and technology and sports management, junior, of East Stroudsburg, PA, had a similar attitude:

“Going in, I was honestly very nervous. At first, I was supposed to be a right-hand man, and I was nervous,” she said, “but going out, it was a great experience, talking with people and really getting out there.”